Elmar Lang

Hello, thank you very much for your contribution to solve the "mistery" about my piece: now I know a lot more about it. It would be great to discover, one day,which type of decoration was this one. It is in the "line" -aesthetically- with the stars for heroism of the former socialist countries; but I understand that most of these awards were instituted even by little organizations and they had few chances to publish books like "Orders and Decorations of the..." for us collectors and enthusiasts! Sincerely, Enzo

Hi Ed, actually, italian ribbon bars should be sewn above the pocket flap and not onto it. After regulations, each row should be of maximum 4 ribbons. "Variations" do exist!... Enzo

Hello, the ribbon (yes, it's mounted upside-down), is that for the never issued medal "Valore sul Campo" (Valour on the Field). The ribbon alone, can be found quite easily so, it's possible that the ribbon bars on the uniform have been made (or completed) after the war. Best wishes, Enzo

and the reverse. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, I would like to post what I consider a fine example of a foreign-made Austrian order. This breast star has silver faceted/pierced rays (the waved, intermediate ones, are gilt); the centre medallion is in gold and enamels; the pin on the reverse is also gold and the reverse centre medallion bears the engraved jeweller's mark "W.m Gray Jeweller 13. New Bond S.t."; the diameter is 7 cm.:

Oh... I've forgot the obverse side!

You're welcome, Eric! I am sure too, that a picture of a wearer is much rarer than the medal itself... If the picture of the reverse would be useful for your "3rd edition", feel free to use it, of course. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, thank so much for the news! Any idea about the award period of this decoration? Or the meaning of the inscription? Sincerely, Enzo

and the reverse side:

Hello, Many years ago, I've bought this star; it is the same size of a Soviet Hero of the Socialist Labour. The centre medallion has the enamelled profile of a state within laurel branches and the lower rays show an inscription in arabic writing. The reverse is plain (with a strong trace of proof to see if the piece was made of gold...). Material: bronze with thin gilding and synthetic/varnish enamel. Ribbon: white and light grey/green. Could anyone identify this piece? Best wishes, Enzo

...and the reverse:

Hello, I would like to post the example of this medal, part of my little Albanian collection. I think it's a medal rather uncommon to see. It is a carefully struck piece (if compared to other Albanian medals of later manufacture). Due to its quality and finish, I agree with the opinion of Eric, that these pieces were made in the USSR. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, excuse me for this long wait... Here follows the picture of my MOP badge's reverse. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, I hope to be forgiven for the bad scans of my two FJO with dedication, posting an hopefully better picture of them. Best wishes, Enzo

Hello, I mean that in the 80s-90s, the price asked in Italy for Soviet awards was very cheap. On the opposite, I remember the prices asked in auction, back in the '70s, at a then famous auction house, based in Munich, Germany: those Soviet pieces were very expensive thanks to their rarity, due to the strict Soviet law. Of course, the Soviet crysis made those pieces enormously cheap, much cheaper that their actual rarity and/or historical value and importance. In my opinion, the prices of today are not an expression of importance/rarity, they just express the desire of possess from people with no problems of cash. A similar situation happens with contemporary art and happened in the past with big buyers from the Middle East. But this is another story. Best wishes, Enzo

...and I prefer not to remember the price (asked in Italy) of Soviet awards in the years 1989-1995, when many people was used to say "why collecting those horribly designed things?". Enzo

"...Now these items - which spent some years in the west - are going back to Russia into the bank vaults of some Russian collectors. ..." ...until some Russian collectors die and leave their collections to the Central Army Museum... ...until the next Russian crysis. Our sons shall see (and possibly, collect, taking those pieces to the West, etc. etc. etc.). Best wishes, Enzo

hi, it sounds strange that in museums there are crudely made cast copies on display, when the Soviet State Mint produced orders made for museum display: those pieces were marked and/or engraved "Образец" on the reverse. Could it be possible that many original (or official copies) pieces have been sold in the '80s and now substituted with less-valuable copies? Best wishes, Enzo

Hi, I've had a lot of fun, in the '80s-early '90s, collecting orders and decorations of the ex-USSR as a "divertissement" from my central collecting theme: Austria-Hungary. I agree that now I couldn't afford most of the then relatively cheap pieces. Now I'm afraid that when Russian collectors would have bought every tsarist and soviet piece, from the cheapest to the rarest one, they could decide to collect western european orders... Enzo

...and please don't forget that a (honestly quite rare) screwback Order of the Red Banner with "2" was sold at an auction of Thies in October 2007 for ? 15.000,- plus buyer's premium. Again, about Russia and its new phaleristic market, let's not forget for how much Russian Imperial orders are sold, lately. I'm not speaking about most rare orders, but simply the most common classes of the St. Stanislas Order... Excuse me for this nearly off-topic reply, but I cannot forget those days in the years 1987-1994, when many CCCP pieces were available for unrealistic (but interesting for us collectors) prices... Best wishes, Enzo

Quoting Eric: "...so I have always considered this an introductory guide...". I remember that also Sir Alan Gardiner called his work "Egyptian Grammar - being an introduction to the study of hieroglyphs": three editions (1927; 1950; 1957) and innumerable reprints until today. That monument of philology, still introduces a lot of scholars and students into the world of egyptian language. See? That book was published in 3 editions: this means that us collectors are waiting at least for the 3rd edition of our introduction to the study of Albanian Orders & Decorations... Best wishes, Enzo

Hi all, I need to publicly thank all those who, either on the Forum or via email, helped me in this research on the Zanzibar group belonged to Dr. Mac Donald. This research (that involves my professional life) has now become a fascinating work on a relatively less-known aspect of Great Britain's colonial history, facts that deserve all the attention of collectors and enthusiasts. In this case, history and documents gave "life" to an otherwise anonymous (although rare) group. The participation and contribution of many people in this Forum, gave the "final touch" to a highly interesting picture. What's happened in these days, shows how important the Web can be, allowing the contact between us, the otherwise little world of collectors and experts of Phaleristic. Sincerely, Enzo Calabresi

Dear Eric, your work (2nd edition) has become my "livre de chevet", when I'm in an "albanian collecting mood" so, I'm very happy that the 3rd definitive edition has come to light. Best wishes, Enzo

Dear Jerome, thank you very much for this highly interesting information! The orders' pillow doesn't show the Order of the Crown of Italy, but that piece still exists, pinned to the award document and the authorization for wear from the Zanzibarian Government. Besides the orders, the group counts a good number of old photos of Dr. Mac D.(both "official" and private); his wife, friends, his home, the Sultans (also with dedication!); parts of his parade uniform; a group of letters and various papers; a dagger and a sword with gold mounts. I'm trying to imagine how would have been the "colonial" life of an European in Zanzibar, in those old days (1895-1915): no telephone (perhaps the telegraph?), no tv, no internet... best wishes, Enzo

Yes, the naming looks strange, but I've reported what's impressed on the medal's rim exactly. Best wishes, Enzo